Freshwater Bass Lures

The Big Hammer 5" Swimbait puts a substantial baitfish profile and a distinctive square tail on your favorite jig head. Fish it on a steady wind along a kelp edge, count it down beside structure, or work it near the bottom for halibut. You control the depth and pace through head weight, retrieve speed, and sink time rather than being locked into one presentation.

On a coastal drift, that flexibility matters: start with a swimming retrieve above the structure, then slow down and let the next cast reach deeper water. The same 5-inch body lets you explore different parts of the water column without changing lure style. Bodies are sold individually, so you can build a color rotation without buying a full pack of each pattern.

Put Your Swimbait at the Right Depth

A bait that passes above feeding fish or drags constantly through rocks is difficult to fish effectively. Pair this body with a Big Hammer Swimbait Jig Head and select enough weight to maintain control in the current. Rig the body straight so the tail can move freely, then check the swim beside the boat or bank before making a full cast.

The advantage is an adaptable soft-plastic setup with a replaceable body. The tradeoff is that soft plastic can tear, and an exposed jig hook can snag in dense kelp or rock crevices. Carry spare bodies and work cover edges rather than expecting a snag-free presentation.

The Right Pick for a Bigger Baitfish Profile

Choose the 5-inch size when you want more presence than a small finesse swimbait while keeping a straightforward cast-and-retrieve presentation. It is a useful option for calico bass, sand bass, halibut, and lingcod around coastal structure, bays, and kelp edges. For a larger silhouette, compare the Big Hammer 6 1/2" Swimbait and match your tackle to the heavier total rig.

Simple Shape, Flexible Setup

• 5-inch soft-plastic body: a baitfish-style profile for inshore swimbait fishing.
• Square tail: the defining tail shape of the Big Hammer design.
• Separate jig-head rigging: adjust head weight for depth, current, and retrieve speed.
• Color choices: baitfish patterns, darker silhouettes, and contrasting tails.
• Sold individually: mix colors and carry replacement bodies.

One Size, Shared Specifications

Dial In the Retrieve Before Changing Colors

Steady swim: cast, allow the bait to reach the desired depth, and retrieve at a controlled pace along open kelp edges or above structure. Start with manageable current and enough visibility to observe the rig's action near you.

Countdown and swim: use a repeatable sink count to explore deeper water. Increase head weight if current prevents you from maintaining the intended depth, but use the lightest head that still gives you control.

Bottom-oriented presentation: for halibut or fish holding low, let the rig reach bottom, then use short lifts and a slow swim just above it. Maintain line awareness on the fall and avoid leaving the head wedged in rocky cover. Choose a rod rated for the combined body and jig-head weight.

Choose Color for the Water in Front of You

Start with Pacific Chovy, Sardine, Green Sardine, or Bay Smelt when you want a baitfish-style look. Try Pearl for a simpler light-colored profile. Silver Phantom and Midnight Phantom offer contrasting chartreuse tails; Toasted has a dark tail. Treat these as starting points, then let water clarity, light, local forage, and fish response guide your choice.

Tackle Express Tips

• Mark the hook exit: lay the head beside the body before threading it on. A straight body is the first thing to check if the rig rolls or tracks sideways.
• Change one variable: adjust sink time or retrieve speed before switching both head weight and color. It is easier to repeat a productive presentation.
• Inspect after each fish: check the nose for tearing and the tail for damage. Replace a body that will no longer stay straight on the head.

Before You Rig One Up

Is this a pack or a single swimbait?
Each purchase is one 5-inch swimbait body, sold individually.

Does it come with a jig head?
No. Choose a separate jig head with a hook that fits the body and enough weight for your depth and current. Check the fit rather than selecting a head by weight alone.

Should I fish it fast or slow?
Start with a steady retrieve that keeps the bait at the intended depth. Slow down for bottom-oriented fish or increase the pace when fish respond to a moving bait. Recheck tail movement whenever you change the rig.

Choose your color above and pair it with a suitable jig head to build your next inshore swimbait setup at Tackle Express.

The Deps Sakamata Shad is a versatile soft jerkbait built for sharp, baitfish-style direction changes. Its smooth body moves with low water resistance, while keels along both sides help guide the bait through quick darts and jumps that can trigger reaction bites from bass.

Make a Fleeing Baitfish Look Convincing

When ordinary fluke-style baits track too predictably, the Sakamata Shad gives you a livelier presentation. Fish it weightless near the surface to imitate escaping forage, or take it deeper on a split-shot or Carolina rig when bass are holding closer to the bottom.

One Bait, Several Ways to Fish

The Sakamata Shad can cover water quickly or stay in the strike zone with a slower presentation. Choose smaller sizes when bass are focused on compact forage, and step up to the larger profiles when bigger baitfish are present or you want a more noticeable target.

Best For

• Weightless soft-jerkbait retrieves
• Fast twitch-and-pause presentations
• Split-shot and Carolina rigs
• Freshwater bass fishing
• Clear water, baitfish activity, and reaction-bite situations

Key Features

• Dual side keels help create the signature darting action
• Smooth body produces low water resistance
• Variable salt content by size balances action and material strength
• Available in sizes from 2 to 8 inches
• Multiple forage-matching color options

Models & Specs

Additional 2, 3, and 4.5-inch variants are available. Select a size and color above to see current options.

Complete the Rig

Pair it with Owner Offset Worm Hooks for a clean soft-plastic setup, or use a Top Brass Carolina Ready Rig to work the bait near the bottom. For a more lifelike finish in a focused 6-inch profile, compare the Deps Sakamata Shad Real Soft Bait.

Tackle Express Tips

• Start weightless with two quick twitches followed by a pause, then adjust the pause length until the fish respond.
• Keep line slack between twitches so the bait can change direction instead of pulling straight ahead.
• Match the size to the forage you see, then use brighter or higher-contrast colors when visibility drops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fish the Sakamata Shad weightless?
Yes. A weightless rig is a strong choice for working near the surface and creating an escaping-baitfish presentation.

Can it be fished near the bottom?
Yes. Use it on a split-shot or Carolina rig to make the bait dart close to bottom cover.

Which size should I choose?
Choose a smaller profile when fish are feeding on compact forage. Move to a larger size when bigger baitfish are present or you want a more visible offering.

Same body as the Pickle Kick, different tail. Where the paddle tail thumps, the Booty Spin runs a spinning blade — flash and vibration instead of displacement. It's the bait you reach for when fish need to find the lure before they can decide about it.

Short version: blade-tail soft swimbait, weedless, three sizes. Pack count changes with size — check the table below before you order.

Pack Quantity by Size

Every size is the same shelf price. They are not the same quantity.

More plastic and a bigger blade cost more to make, so the price holds and the count drops. Worth knowing before you add the 7" to your cart expecting a handful of baits.

When to Fish a Blade Instead of a Paddle

A paddle tail moves water. A blade throws light and puts a higher-frequency vibration into it. Different signals, different conditions:

• Dirty or off-color water — the primary case. When fish can't see a profile from distance, flash and vibration bring them in close enough to commit.
• Low light — early, late, and overcast, where a blade catches whatever light there is.
• Pressured fish that have seen paddle tails all season. A different signal on the same body is often all it takes.
• Slow presentations — the blade keeps working at speeds where a paddle tail goes quiet, so you can crawl it and still be saying something.

When the water is clear and fish are keyed on a specific bait, go back to the paddle tail — that's the Pickle Kick.

On an Umbrella Rig

You don't need a full rig of these. The standard approach is two arms of Booty Spin mixed into a rig of paddle tails — the blades pull fish to the school, the paddle tails give them something to eat.

At two per pack, one pack of 5" covers exactly that. Run them on the bottom two arms with your heavier heads, or on the top three if you want the flash riding above the school.

Rigging It

The Booty Spin uses the same body as the corresponding Pickle Kick size, so start with the hook size you'd run on the equivalent Pickle Kick and confirm the fit before you commit a pack — the point should sit flush in the body slot, not buried and not riding proud.

Keep the head as light as your depth allows. The blade needs to turn freely, and an over-weighted head that drags the bait nose-down can foul it against the body. A Warbaits Neck Breaker Swing Head lets the bait pivot independently, which helps the blade stay clear and spinning.

Picking a Size and Color

Not every color is offered in every size. The selector above shows what's actually available in each — pick your size first, then your color.

On color: the blade is already doing the attracting, so the body works best as a silhouette. Natural tones in clear water, darker bodies in green water, solid high-contrast colors once it gets dirty.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Check the blade before every cast for the first few. A blade fouled against the body is a bait doing nothing, and you won't feel the difference until you look.
• Fish it slower than a paddle tail. The blade turns at a crawl. Speed adds nothing and can make it helicopter.
• Mix, don't replace. Two arms of blade in a rig of paddle tails outperforms an all-blade rig in most conditions we see.
• Save it for the days you'd otherwise go home. This is a dirty-water and low-light problem-solver, not a clear-day default.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming every size is the same quantity. Same price, three different pack counts. The 7" is a single bait.
• Too much head weight. Drags the nose down, fouls the blade, and kills the one thing you bought the bait for.
• Burning it. Fast retrieves make the blade spin the bait rather than the bait carry the blade.
• Fishing it in clear water and blaming the bait. Clear water is paddle-tail water. Different tool.

Specifications

Kicker does not publish bait weight, blade size, or hook size for the Booty Spin. Call the shop and we'll measure the size you're considering. Colors vary by size and by production run — the selector above is the live list. Hooks and jig heads are sold separately.

What's Included

Booty Spin swimbaits in the size and color selected — three per pack in 3", two per pack in 5", one per pack in 7". Hooks, jig heads, and the umbrella rig are sold separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many baits come in a pack?
Three in the 3", two in the 5", one in the 7". All three sizes are the same pack price.

Why does the 7" cost the same as the 3" if it's only one bait?
More plastic and a larger blade per bait. Per bait it works out to $10.99 for the 7" against $3.66 for the 3".

What's the difference between the Booty Spin and the Pickle Kick?
Same body, different tail. The Pickle Kick has a paddle tail that moves water; the Booty Spin has a spinning blade that throws flash and vibration. Paddle tail for clear water, blade for dirty water and low light.

What hook size does it take?
Kicker doesn't publish one for this bait. The body matches the corresponding Pickle Kick size, so start there and confirm the point sits flush in the slot — or call the shop and we'll check it against a hook for you.

Can I run a full umbrella rig of Booty Spins?
You can, but two arms of blade mixed into a rig of paddle tails works better in most conditions. One pack of 5" covers exactly two arms.

Is it weedless?
Yes, when the hook point sits flush in the body slot.

Why isn't my color available in the size I want?
Not every color is produced in every size. The selector above shows the live combinations — pick your size first, then your color.

Does the blade foul on the cast?
It can if the head is too heavy for the depth or the bait is rigged crooked. Keep the head light enough that the bait rides level and check the blade is turning free before you cast.

Gear That Goes With It

• Warbaits Neck Breaker Swing Head — lets the bait pivot so the blade stays clear.
• Kicker PK-Rig Umbrella Rig — five-arm rig with quick clips.
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-5 — the paddle-tail version, 5".
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-3 — the paddle-tail version, 3".
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-7 — the paddle-tail version, 7".

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We sell Southern California saltwater tackle from our shop on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, and we fish these baits on the same water you do. Not sure whether the day calls for a blade or a paddle tail? Call us or come in — we'd rather point you at the right one than sell you both.

Make a fleeing baitfish the easiest target on the surface. The Jackall Riser Bait 007 uses an upward-angled metal lip to climb toward the surface on the retrieve, then skitter and skip like a minnow trying to escape. Its erratic, panicked action gives bass a moving target to chase and creates the kind of surface commotion that can turn feeding activity into a topwater strike.

At 2.75 inches and 5/16 oz, the 007 offers a compact baitfish profile with two sharp Japanese treble hooks. Choose it when fish are chasing small forage near the top and you want a lively escape action rather than a slow pop-and-pause presentation.

More Than a Quiet Wake

This is not simply a subtle subsurface wake bait. The upward metal lip is designed to bring it up quickly and generate an erratic skipping action across the surface. That movement is its main advantage when bass are willing to chase. When fish want a nearly stationary target, a slower popper or soft-plastic presentation may be the better choice.

Put It in Front of Chasing Fish

Best for: surface-feeding largemouth and smallmouth bass, schooling-fish situations, compact baitfish presentations, and covering open water with a moving topwater. Try it around visible bait schools, points, and open pockets where you have room to retrieve without fouling the trebles. Low light and overcast conditions are good starting opportunities, but visible feeding activity is the stronger cue.

For a different surface cadence, keep a Heddon Zara Spook available as a walking-bait alternative. If fish stop chasing on top, a Zoom The Fluke 4-inch offers a soft-plastic follow-up.

The Details Behind the Skip

• Upward-angled metal lip: creates lift during the retrieve rather than driving the lure downward like a conventional diving bill.
• Erratic surface action: imitates a baitfish skittering away from predators.
• Compact profile: a small-forage option for bass feeding near the surface.
• Two Japanese treble hooks: factory-equipped for fishing straight from the package.
• Eight color choices: select your preferred finish from the available variants.

007 Models & Specs

Let the Lip Create the Escape

Cast beyond the feeding area when practical, take up slack, and begin retrieving to bring the bait toward the surface. Start with a consistent retrieve, then adjust your speed until it produces the skittering action you want. You do not need to force a traditional walking-bait rhythm to make the upward lip work. Use tackle rated for a 5/16-oz lure, with enough give to help keep treble-hooked fish connected.

Tackle Express Tips

• Watch the bait first: make a short test retrieve beside the boat or bank to find a speed that produces the desired rise and skip.
• Cast beyond the commotion: retrieve through the edge of feeding activity instead of landing directly on top of it.
• Stay composed on the strike: keep reeling until you feel the fish, then load the rod smoothly rather than reacting only to the splash.

Before Your First Cast

Is the Riser Bait 007 a topwater lure?
Yes. Its upward-angled metal lip brings it toward the surface on the retrieve, where it creates an erratic skipping action. It should not be described as a bait designed never to break the surface.

How is it different from a walking bait?
The Riser Bait uses its metal lip and retrieve to create a rising, fleeing-baitfish presentation. A traditional walking bait relies on rod cadence for its side-to-side surface movement.

When should I choose the 007?
Choose it when bass are chasing small baitfish near the surface and you want an active, compact topwater presentation. Switch approaches if fish consistently prefer a slower or subsurface target.

Does it come with hooks?
Yes. The Riser Bait 007 comes equipped with two Japanese treble hooks.

A stickbait lives or dies on whether an average angler can make it walk. The Espetit is built so it does — the taper and balance do most of the work, so you get a clean side-to-side glide without the wrist rhythm a lot of walking baits demand.

Short version: floating topwater stickbait in five sizes from 70mm to 140mm. Walk-the-dog and sliding action, twin cavities that pull bubbles down with the bait, and an internal rattle — with a silent version if the rattle is working against you.

What Makes It Different

• Dual cavities — the bait drags air down as it darts, leaving a bubble trail alongside the surface disturbance. Two signals instead of one.
• Internal rattle tuned to a specific frequency, adding sound to the visual and the bubbles.
• Floats at rest — the pause holds it in the strike zone instead of dropping out of it, and the pause is where most stickbait fish commit.
• Aerodynamic profile for distance, which matters when fish are boiling out of reach or you're covering a flat from the beach.
• Five sizes spanning bass-sized finesse to full pelagic profiles.

Rattle or Silent?

The White N Flash (Silent) is not a color variation — it's a rattle-free version of the bait, currently offered in 95mm.

Reach for the silent when fish are heavily pressured, the water is very clear and calm, or the rattling version has been getting follows and refusals. Sound is an attractant right up until it isn't, and on flat mornings a quiet bait sometimes gets eaten by the same fish that just refused a loud one. Take the rattle version everywhere else — chop, wind, stained water, and any time you need to call fish from a distance.

Which Size

Freshwater and Saltwater

The Espetit came out of the European seabass scene, which is why it casts and behaves the way it does — wind, chop, and long distances were the design brief.

Freshwater: 70mm and 95mm for largemouth and smallmouth, particularly on clear pressured lakes where a walking bait needs to be smaller than the standard.

Saltwater: the 125mm and 140mm are legitimate surface options for calico bass over structure, and for bonito and barracuda when they're feeding on top. The distance is the argument — boiling fish are usually further away than you'd like.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

Topwater windows on the local lakes move week to week. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth checking before you decide it's a surface day.

Picking a Color

Colors offered vary by size. The selector above is the live list.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: moderate action with a forgiving tip. Stiff rods rip trebles out of fish on surface strikes — the single most common way anglers lose topwater fish.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Braid gives you the direct connection to work the walk; the leader gives you abrasion resistance and a little stretch.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and pulls the nose down, fighting the bait's float.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Slack line makes it walk. Twitch into slack, not into tension. A tight line pulls the bait straight and kills the side-to-side.
• Use the pause. It floats for a reason. Let it sit after a blow-up and miss — fish routinely come back for a bait that's sitting still.
• Wait to feel weight before you set. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth.
• Try the silent version on flat mornings. Same bait, one fewer signal. Sometimes that's the difference.

Common Mistakes

• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Too stiff a rod. Costs you fish on every strike.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.
• Undersizing for saltwater. A 95mm on calicos over structure will get bit — the #6 trebles are the limiting factor, not the bait.

What's Included

One Fishus Espetit in the size and color selected, factory rigged with trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between White N Flash and White N Flash (Silent)?
The silent version has no internal rattle. Same body, same action, one fewer signal — for pressured fish and flat, clear conditions. Currently offered in 95mm.

Which size should I start with?
95mm for freshwater bass and general use. 125mm if you're fishing saltwater surface for calicos, bonito, or barracuda.

Does it float?
Yes. It holds position on the pause instead of sinking out, which is where a lot of the bites come from.

How do I make it walk?
Twitch the rod tip into slack line, not into tension. The bait needs slack to turn — pulling tight drives it straight.

Can I use it in saltwater?
Yes — the Espetit was developed for European seabass. Rinse the hardware after every trip like any other saltwater lure.

What rod and line?
Moderate action with a forgiving tip, braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through; it sinks and fights the bait's float.

Why are some sizes offered in fewer colors?
Fishus doesn't produce every colorway in every size. The selector shows what's actually available.

Related Gear

• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.
• Freshwater Lures — cranks, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.
• Staff Favorites — what our crew actually fishes.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita and we fish these lures on both the local lakes and the coast. Not sure whether you want the 95 or the 125, or whether the silent version is worth it for your water? Call the shop or come in — that's a two-minute conversation and it saves you buying the wrong one first.

The Basstrix Flash Trix 4" Soft Plastic Minnow has become the secret weapon for anglers running Forward-Facing Sonar. Hand-poured and hand-painted one at a time, the slim baitfish profile and large holographic eyes create a high-visibility target that shows up clearly on live imaging — and looks just as convincing to the fish below. The hollow body construction provides natural buoyancy and a soft feel that keeps fish holding on longer for superior hook-up ratios. At 4 inches (actual 3-1/2"), it matches shad and minnow forage perfectly across both freshwater and saltwater applications. 6 per pack.

Key Features

• Built for Forward-Facing Sonar — broad sides and realistic silhouette show up clearly on live imaging
• Hand-poured & hand-painted — unmatched detail with Basstrix multi-dimensional color patterns
• Hollow body construction — natural buoyancy and soft feel for superior hook-up ratios
• Versatile rigging — drop shot, hover strolling rig, Carolina rig, Ned rig, or weightless topwater
• 4" profile (actual 3-1/2") — matches shad and minnow forage for freshwater and saltwater gamefish
• 14 proven color patterns — 6 per pack

Specifications

The Big Hammer 3" Swimbait gives you a compact baitfish profile for freshwater bass and inshore fishing. Its square tail adds swimming movement to a simple retrieve, while the unrigged soft-plastic body lets you choose a jig head to suit the depth and current. Sold individually, it's an easy way to build a color selection without buying a full pack of each pattern.

Downsize When the Forage Is Small

When fish are feeding on small baitfish, a larger swimbait isn't always the right starting point. This 3-inch body offers a smaller presentation for swimming along rocky edges, working bay structure or covering freshwater shoreline. Start with a steady retrieve, then add brief pauses to change the bait's pace rather than relying on constant rod movement.

Choose it for a compact, jig-head-rigged approach to largemouth bass, calico bass, spotted bay bass and halibut. An exposed-hook setup is straightforward to rig and fish, but it can catch weeds or snag rock. Keep it above heavy cover, and carry spare bodies because soft plastic can tear during fishing.

Match the Head to the Water

Pair the body with a suitably sized Big Hammer Swimbait Jig Head. Check that the hook fits the short body without crowding the tail. Start with the lightest head that lets you maintain the depth you want; increase weight when current or deeper water makes the bait difficult to control.

For shallow edges and calmer water, swim it steadily above bottom. Around deeper structure, let it sink before retrieving and use occasional pauses to return it to the strike zone. For halibut, try a controlled retrieve close to sandy bottom, avoiding excessive slack. These are starting approaches, not fixed depth or weight prescriptions.

A Color for Your Starting Point

Use shad- or smelt-style patterns as a starting point when matching local baitfish. Pearl offers a light-colored alternative, while a darker pattern can provide a different silhouette. Let water clarity, light and the forage you see guide your choice, then change one variable at a time so you can judge the response.

Key Features

• Compact 3-inch soft-plastic swimbait body.
• Distinctive square-tail design.
• Unrigged body for a jig-head setup suited to your conditions.
• 15 selectable color patterns.
• Sold individually so you can mix colors.
• Useful for freshwater bass and inshore swimbait presentations.

Models & Specs

Tackle Express Tips

• Thread the body straight onto the hook. Test it beside the boat or bank and re-rig if it tracks unevenly.
• Mark where the hook should exit before rigging so the body stays straight and the tail remains free to move.
• Carry a natural baitfish pattern and a contrasting option. Adjust retrieve speed before changing both color and head weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a rigged lure or a replacement body?
It is an unrigged soft-plastic swimbait body, sold individually. Choose a suitable jig head separately.

What jig-head weight should I use?
Choose by depth, current and retrieve speed, not lure length alone. Start light and increase weight only when you need more depth control, while checking hook fit on the 3-inch body.

Can I fish it in freshwater and saltwater?
Yes. Use it for freshwater bass or an inshore presentation for calico bass, spotted bay bass and halibut. Match your hook, leader and tackle to the fish and structure.

When should I choose a larger profile?
Stay with the 3-inch body when you want a small baitfish presentation. If you want a slightly larger, more detailed profile, compare the Big Hammer 3.5" Full Body Swimbait.

The Spro KGB Chad Shad Swimbait is one of the great advances in fishing over the past several years is the development of glide baits. These oversized, single-jointed, hard-bodied fish imitators were created to mimic trout in California lakes but have morphed into replicating large bass prey across the country. The KGB Chad Shad 180 can resemble virtually any baitfish that bass feed on, such as trout, shad, perch, and other types of fish.

The Glide Bait designed by SPRO and KGB Swimbaits has been perfected with experience. Kevin Brightwell, the designer of KGB Swimbaits, has greatly enjoyed the partnership with SPRO. “It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s all been very natural with nothing forced, and we’ve been able to take a proven bait and make something new and fresh based off of that. It all started when I was sourcing hooks and they recognized who I was. After talking about glide baits and some fishing, they asked if I’d like to partner with them. Since then it’s been an awesome partnership.”

Brightwell thinks the KGB Chad Shad 180 will find a home in tackle boxes of anglers at every experience level. “The Chad Shad is one of the most popular baits in my lineup. It’s versatile enough that a beginner can garner results, or a seasoned pro can use it for that big kicker fish to finish out their limit. It delivers the performance of a hand-crafted, fine-tuned bait at an affordable price.”

Features:

• 180mm length - approximately 7"
• 2.4oz
• Slow sink ROF 3-4
• 2 Gamakatsu #1 treble hooks
• MSRP: $59.99

The Roboworm 4 1/2" Straight Tail Worm is a West Coast finesse staple for anglers who want a soft, subtle worm with repeatable color and action. Roboworm's robotic production creates well-defined colors and distinctive combinations that echo the look of hand-poured finesse plastics, while the soft straight-tail body gives a sensitive, alluring action in the water.

When a fish bites, the Salt Release System releases salt from the worm. That gives the fish a reason to hold on longer and gives you more time to finish the hook set. Each package includes 10 worms.

Why This Worm Earned a Place in the Finesse Box

This is the kind of worm you reach for when fish are seeing plenty of tackle, boat traffic is high, or you need a compact profile that can be worked slowly. The 4 1/2-inch straight-tail shape stays understated, while the soft plastic and Salt Release System add life and bite appeal without turning the presentation bulky.

When a Straight Tail Solves the Problem

Some finesse days call for a worm that moves without a large paddle or aggressive appendage. The straight tail gives you a clean profile for subtle presentations, and the broad color lineup makes it easier to match the look you want instead of settling for one generic shade.

Built for Finesse Bass Fishing

• Drop-shot rigs when you want a compact worm above the weight
• Shaky-head presentations for a subtle bottom-oriented profile
• Split-shot rigs when you want the worm to glide naturally away from the weight
• Light Texas-rig applications when a straight-tail worm is the right profile
• Pressured bass situations and warmer months, when the original listing calls out this worm's effectiveness
• Large- and smallmouth bass finesse applications

The Right Pick If...

• You want a soft 4 1/2-inch worm for a subtle finesse presentation.
• You prefer consistent, well-defined colors and unusual hand-poured-style combinations.
• You want salt release to help fish hold the worm longer after the bite.
• You need a large color selection for changing light, forage, and water conditions.

What It Does Best, and When to Choose Something Else

The Straight Tail Worm is at its best when the presentation should look restrained and natural. It gives you a soft, sensitive body, a clean profile, and a wide range of colors. Choose a different soft bait when you specifically need a bulky profile, a strong swimming tail, or a more aggressive water displacement than a straight-tail worm is designed to provide.

How to Fish It

For a drop shot, rig the worm straight so it hangs naturally above the weight, then work it with small shakes and pauses. On a shaky head, keep the worm centered and drag or shake it along the bottom. A split shot lets the worm glide as you move the weight slowly, while a light Texas rig gives you a weedless-style option when cover is part of the presentation.

Keep the retrieve controlled. Short pulls, subtle shakes, and pauses let the soft plastic do the work. If a fish picks it up, the Salt Release System is designed to release salt during the bite and help encourage a longer hold.

Best Conditions

Start with this worm when fish pressure or boat traffic calls for a quieter presentation. The original listing also highlights it during warmer months. Match the rig and weight to the depth and cover, then let the color selection do the fine-tuning.

Color Guide

• Shad and hologram tones: SXE Shad, Hologram Shad, Prizm Shad, Hologram Dawn, and Morning Dawn Hologram.
• Bluegill and bass tones: Blue Crawler, Bold Bluegill, Baby Bluegill, Baby Bass, and Bait Ball.
• Craw and green tones: Red Crawler, Salt River Craw, Bitchin Craw, Green Pumpkin Purple, Green Weenie, and MM III.
• Dark and contrast tones: Black Grape, Oxblood variations, Margarita Mutilator, Orange Crusher, and Salt & Pepper Chartreuse.
• Morning Dawn family: Morning Dawn, Morning Dawn Silver Flake, Morning Dawn Chartreuse, and Aaron's Morning Dawn.

Key Features

• 4 1/2-inch straight-tail profile: A compact, subtle shape for finesse rigs.
• Soft plastic: Sensitive body with an alluring action when worked slowly.
• Salt Release System: Releases salt when a fish bites to encourage a longer hold.
• Roboworm color consistency: Robotic production creates well-defined colors and distinctive combinations.
• Large color selection: 40 current color and SKU combinations are listed below.
• 10 per pack: Each package includes 10 straight-tail worms.

Models & Specs

All models below are 4 1/2-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worms sold 10 per pack. Prices are intentionally omitted so the table stays useful when pricing changes.

Tackle Express Tips

• Rig the worm straight. A centered body keeps the straight-tail profile working cleanly instead of spinning or tracking sideways.
• When fish are pressured, start with a small shake and a longer pause before changing colors or adding movement.
• Let the Salt Release System do its job. Once a fish picks up the worm, avoid ripping it away immediately and finish the hook set with control.

FAQ

How many worms come in a pack?
Each Roboworm 4 1/2-inch Straight Tail Worm package includes 10 worms.

What makes the Salt Release System useful?
The system releases salt when a fish bites, which is intended to encourage the fish to hold the worm longer and give you more time to complete the hook set.

What rigs work with this worm?
It is a versatile finesse worm for drop shot, shaky head, split shot, and light Texas-rig presentations. Match the rig to the depth, cover, and bottom presentation you want.

Complete the Setup

Build a shaky-head presentation with the Owner Ultrahead Shaky Head, or rig it for a drop shot with Gamakatsu Split Shot / Drop Shot Hooks. If you want a different action from the same brand, compare it with the Roboworm 4 1/2-inch Curly Tail Worms.

Choose the color family that fits the day, rig the worm straight, and let a restrained presentation turn a pressured fish into a bite.

 Deps Cover Scat Stick Bait is poured with a bulky body and an ultra-high specific gravity material that boasts 40% salt content. Despite its relatively small size, the Cover Scat is heavy stick bait packed with tons of salt.  The Deps Cover Scat is for sale in 17 colors.

Designed to be fished without any extra weight, this stick bait features a fast horizontal fall and uses body stabilization fins at the sides to encourage the proper posture. 

A molded hook guard slot and belly hook slot allows for easy rigging and improves your hook-up rate with less plastic to shift down the hook, while the bulb on the top of the bait serves as a hook point guard to keep the presentation completely weedless.

With no additional legs, the Deps Cover Scat Stick Bait gets in and out of cover with ease and is ideal for fishing around heavy cover and vertical structure like overhanging trees, dams, dock pilings, and bushes along the shoreline.

Elevate your finesse fishing with the Z-Man Chatterbait Flashback Mini, a deadly, compact bladed jig designed to trigger aggressive strikes from a wide variety of species. By combining a downsized version of the patented hex-shaped ChatterBlade with a hand-painted, holographic minnow body, Z-Man has created a unique bait that excels in clear water and heavily pressured fisheries.

Unlike standard bladed jigs, the Flashback Mini features a skirtless design, allowing it to slip through the water with a more subtle, streamlined approach. Its signature direct head-to-blade connection ensures the bait starts thumping and vibrating the moment you begin your retrieve, delivering an exaggerated side-to-side hunting action that fish find irresistible.

Key Features:

• Patented ChatterBait Design: Features the famous direct-to-head blade connection for instant vibration and a hard-hitting side-to-side shimmy.

• Holographic Flash: The hand-painted minnow body is infused with multi-hue holographic foil, creating a realistic flash that mimics high-protein forage.

• Skirtless Finesse Profile: Offers a more subtle and natural presentation than full-sized jigs, making it ideal for wary trout, panfish, and pond bass.

• Multi-Species Dominance: A highly versatile tool for targeting crappie, bluegill, perch, trout, and bass in both fresh and brackish water.

• Superior Durability: Built to withstand dozens of catches, with some anglers reporting over 100 fish on a single rig before needing a replacement.

• Complete Package: Each pack comes pre-rigged with one minnow body and includes one additional unrigged curly tail body for versatile presentation options.

• Ultra-Light Performance: Available in 1/16 and 1/8 ounce weights, perfect for ultra-light tackle and small bodies of water.

Experience the versatility and precision of the Megabass Dark Sleeper swimbait. Its innovative design features bottom weighting for perfect bottom bouncing and dragging, as well as hidden hooks for a stealthy and weedless presentation. With a range of sizes and weights to choose from, you can target the water with expert precision and control for maximum results.

At any speed, the tail of this swimbait will create enticing vibrations and water movement, making it an irresistible lure for even the most cautious fish. Upgrade your fishing game with the Megabass Dark Sleeper swimbait today!

1 per pack

The PK-5 is the size most calico bass are eating most of the year. Five inches of paddle-tail profile — big enough to move water and get noticed over structure, small enough that a fish doesn't have to think about it.

Short version: 5", half an ounce, four baits per pack, weedless through a 4/0 or 5/0 hook. This is the workhorse in the Pickle Kick lineup and the default choice for open water, boiler rock, and umbrella rig arms.

What It Does in the Water

The body shape and tail were developed through computational fluid dynamics testing, which in practice means the tail kicks at slow speeds instead of needing to be burned to come alive. That matters over structure, where you want the bait crawling through the zone rather than racing past it.

The plastisol is on the firm side of soft. It costs you a little tail action compared to the softest baits on the shelf, and it buys you fish per bait — a calico that would shred a soft plastic in one grab tends to leave this one fishable.

Rigged on a swing head or a weighted EWG, the hook point tucks into the body slot and the bait comes through kelp stringers and rock without loading up.

Where It Earns Its Keep

• Slow-rolling boiler rock and kelp at Catalina and the outer islands — the bread-and-butter calico presentation.
• Open water over schooling bait, where the 5" profile matches most of what's swimming.
• Surf fishing on a lighter head, worked through troughs and along structure.
• Umbrella rig arms — the standard bait for a five-arm A-rig. See below.

Rigging It

Match a 4/0 or 5/0 hook to the body. Run the point up through the belly and out the top so it sits in the slot — buried too deep and you lose hookups, sitting too proud and you lose the weedless advantage.

Head weight sets the fall speed and the depth you can hold. A Warbaits Neck Breaker Swing Head in 1/2 oz is the general-purpose pairing; drop to 1/4 oz for shallow calm water, go 3/4 or 1 oz for deeper structure and current.

How many packs a five-arm umbrella rig takes

Buy the baits in one color if you want the school to read as one school. Some anglers run four matching and one odd bait as a target — both work, and two packs covers either.

Picking a Color

Color names are fun and mostly not the point. What matters is contrast against the water you're in:

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Slow down. The tail works at a crawl. Most anglers fish this bait faster than it wants to be fished and never see what it does.
• Keep the hook point in the slot. Buried in the plastic costs you hookups; riding proud costs you the weedless advantage. It should sit flush.
• Re-seat it after every few fish. The bait slides down the shank and starts running crooked long before it looks damaged.
• Buy two colors, not five. One natural and one dark covers most SoCal days better than a box of one-offs.

Common Mistakes

• Too much head for the depth. A heavy head drags the nose down and kills the tail. Use the lightest head that holds your zone.
• Wrong hook size. Under 4/0 and the gap won't clear the body on the hookset.
• Buying one pack for an umbrella rig. Four per pack, five arms. One pack leaves you an arm short.
• Fishing a torn bait because it still looks fine. A split at the hook slot lets the bait spin, and a spinning bait twists your line.

Specifications

Colors are listed in the selector above and change with each production run. Hooks and jig heads are sold separately.

What's Included

Four PK-5 swimbaits per pack, in the color selected. Hooks, jig heads, and the umbrella rig are sold separately. A five-arm rig takes two packs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many baits come in a pack?
Four.

What hook size does the PK-5 take?
4/0 or 5/0. Anything smaller and the gap won't clear the body on the hookset.

What jig head weight should I use?
1/2 oz covers most calico fishing. Drop to 1/4 oz in shallow calm water; go 3/4 or 1 oz for depth and current. Use the lightest head that holds your zone.

Is it weedless?
Yes, when the hook point sits flush in the body slot. That's what lets it come through kelp and rock without loading up.

How many packs do I need for a five-arm umbrella rig?
Two. Five arms, four baits per pack — you'll finish with three spares, which you will use.

PK-3, PK-5, or PK-7 — which one?
PK-5 is the everyday size and matches what calicos eat most of the year. Drop to the PK-3 inside harbors and bays when the bait is small. Go PK-7 when you want a bigger meal and you're on a rod that can throw it.

Can I use it in freshwater?
Yes. It's a saltwater bait by design and market, but the same slow-roll presentation works on largemouth.

How long does one bait last?
Depends entirely on what eats it. The plastisol is firmer than most soft baits specifically so a fish doesn't end the bait's day in one grab, but no soft plastic is permanent — change it when the hook slot splits.

Gear That Goes With It

• Warbaits Neck Breaker Swing Head — the standard head for this bait, two per pack.
• Kicker PK-Rig Umbrella Rig — five-arm rig with quick clips.
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-3 — harbor and bay size.
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-7 — larger profile.
• Kicker Booty Spin — same body with a spinning blade instead of a paddle tail.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We sell Southern California saltwater tackle from our shop on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, and we fish these baits on the same water you do. Not sure which color for the conditions you're headed into, or how many packs your setup takes? Call us or come in — we'd rather work it out at the counter than have you guess.

When bass follow a bait without committing, a quieter presentation can be the better move. Roboworm 6" Straight Tail Worms pair a slender, soft-plastic profile with subtle movement for working a drop shot, shaking a jig head or slowly dragging a light Texas rig. The 6-inch size gives fish a longer target without the bulk of a thick-bodied worm.

Roboworm's computer-guided pouring process produces detailed, hand-poured-style color combinations. Its exclusive Salt Release System releases salt when a fish bites, designed to encourage fish to hold the bait longer. Made in the USA and packed 10 per bag, these worms are an easy staple for a finesse-bass box.

A Subtle Answer to Pressured Bass

Choose the straight tail when you want controlled movement rather than the continuous swimming action of a curled or paddled tail. Small rod movements let you work a specific rock, dock edge or depth zone without rushing past fish. It is a useful approach in clear water, around heavily fished structure and during busy, high-boat-traffic days.

The trade-off is a less aggressive presentation: this is a bait for slowing down and placing casts carefully, not the first choice for quickly covering water or creating a strong vibration signal in heavily stained conditions.

Where the 6-Inch Worm Fits

Best for: largemouth and smallmouth bass; drop-shot fishing along points and breaks; shaky-head presentations around rock; and light Texas, split-shot or Carolina rigs for working bottom contours. Fish it when bass are reluctant to chase, or whenever a slim worm profile suits the forage and fishing pressure.

For a smaller presentation, consider the Roboworm 4 1/2" Straight Tail Worms. When you want a longer profile, step up to the Roboworm 7" Straight Tail Worms.

Details That Make the Difference

• Soft, slender body: responds to restrained rod movements for a finesse presentation.
• Straight-tail profile: lets you control the amount of action with your retrieve.
• Computer-guided pours: create consistent, detailed color patterns.
• Salt Release System: releases salt on the bite and is designed to encourage a longer hold.
• Versatile rigging: suitable for drop shot, shaky head, Texas, Carolina, dart-head and split-shot presentations.
• Made in the USA: 10 worms per pack.

Models & Specs

Choose your preferred color from the selector. The shared specifications above keep color selection simple without repeating the same dimensions for every option.

Make Small Movements Count

Drop shot: nose-hook the worm for open-water presentations, or use an appropriate weedless rig around cover. Adjust the distance between hook and weight to keep the bait at the fish's level. Shake gently, then pause instead of constantly moving the rig.

Shaky head or dart head: rig the worm straight and use short shakes and pauses around rock, edges and bottom transitions. Pick enough weight to maintain contact without overpowering the presentation.

Texas, split-shot or Carolina rig: use a slow drag-and-pause retrieve. Match the hook and line to the cover, and choose a weedless presentation where exposed hooks would snag.

Color Choices for Changing Water

As a starting point, try natural green-pumpkin, shad or translucent tones in clear water. Morning Dawn and purple-toned options offer a different look when fish ignore your first choice. Darker colors can provide a stronger silhouette as light fades. Let water clarity, local forage and actual bites guide the final choice rather than treating any color as a guarantee.

Tackle Express Tips

• Check that the worm hangs straight before every cast. A kinked rig changes how it moves and can make a finesse presentation less convincing.
• Pause longer before adding more action. On a drop shot, keep the weight in place while making small movements with the bait.
• Change one variable at a time: color, leader spacing or retrieve pace. That makes it easier to identify what the fish respond to.

Questions Before Your Next Cast

How many worms come in a pack?
Each pack contains 10 six-inch Straight Tail Worms.

Are these only for drop-shot fishing?
No. Drop shot is a natural fit, but Roboworm also recommends shaky-head, Texas, Carolina, dart-head and split-shot applications.

Should I choose the 4 1/2-inch, 6-inch or 7-inch size?
Start with 6 inches for a slim, longer finesse presentation. Downsize to 4 1/2 inches when you want a smaller target, or choose 7 inches when you want more length without switching away from a straight-tail worm.

What does the Salt Release System do?
It releases salt when a fish bites. Roboworm designed the system to encourage fish to hold the worm longer, giving you more opportunity to detect the bite.

Elevate your finesse game with the Basstrix Flash 3" a bait that has become the gold standard for anglers utilizing Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS). Meticulously hand-poured and hand-painted one at a time, these minnows offer a level of detail and realism that mass-produced baits simply cannot match. The Flash Trix features a slim, bite-sized baitfish profile and large holographic eyes, creating a high-visibility target that shows up clearly on live imaging screens.

Built with a unique hollow body construction, the Flash Trix is incredibly versatile, allowing for a wide range of creative rigging methods. Whether you are targeting pressured bass in clear freshwater or finicky gamefish in saltwater, this bait is designed to trigger instinctive reaction strikes from trophy-sized predators.

Key Features:

• Optimized for Live Imaging: Broad sides and a realistic silhouette make this the perfect lure for Forward-Facing Sonar enthusiasts.

• Hand-Crafted Realism: Each bait is individually hand-poured to ensure unmatched detail, featuring iconic multi-dimensional color patterns.

• Innovative Hollow Body: The internal air cavity provides natural buoyancy and a soft feel that ensures fish hold on longer for superior hook-up ratios.

• Versatile Rigging Options: Excels on a drop shot, hover strolling rig, Carolina rig, Ned rig, or even fished weightless for topwater action.

• Multi-Species Appeal: Available in 3" and 4" sizes to mimic common forage, making it effective for all freshwater and saltwater gamefish.

Qty: 7

The Yamamoto 5" Senko is the big-bass version of the most legendary soft plastic bait ever made. Same salt-impregnated formula, same irresistible horizontal fall with seductive side-to-side action — in a 5-inch profile that attracts larger fish, produces more bulk in the water, and excels in heavier cover where the 4" can't match the presence needed to pull out quality bass. With 50 proven colors — the most comprehensive color selection in the Senko lineup — there's a 5" Senko for every condition, every forage, and every fishery. 10 per pack.

Main Use & Benefit

A 5-inch salt-impregnated stickbait with the legendary Senko horizontal fall and side-to-side action in a larger profile — designed to attract bigger bass, produce more bulk and presence in the water, and excel in heavier cover and situations where the 4" doesn't have enough profile to pull quality fish.

Problem It Solves

The 4" Senko is the most versatile size, but when you're specifically targeting big bass in heavier cover or when fish are keying on larger forage, you need more profile and more presence in the water. The 5" Senko delivers the same legendary action with a larger body that attracts quality fish and produces more bulk on the fall — the upgrade when you want to target the biggest bass in the area.

Advantages

• ✅ 5" larger profile — attracts bigger bass and produces more bulk and presence than the 4"
• ✅ Same legendary salt-impregnated formula — horizontal fall with seductive side-to-side action
• ✅ Works on any rig — wacky, Texas, Neko, drop shot, Carolina rig
• ✅ 50 proven color options — the most comprehensive color selection in the Senko lineup
• ✅ Proven worldwide — trusted by tournament pros and weekend anglers alike
• ✅ 10 per pack
• ⚠️ Larger profile — for finesse and clear water applications, consider the 4" or 3" Senko

When to Choose It

Reach for the 5" Senko when you're specifically targeting big bass and want a larger profile to attract quality fish, when bass are keying on larger forage, or when you're fishing heavier cover where a bigger bait gets more attention. It's the upgrade from the 4" when you want to target the largest fish in the area and are willing to sacrifice some bites for bigger ones.

Best Fishing Techniques

• Wacky Rig — hook through the center with a #2/0 or #3/0 wacky hook; use an O-ring to extend bait life; the 5" body produces a larger, more pronounced side-to-side wiggle on the fall that attracts big bass from a distance
• Weightless Texas Rig — rig on a 4/0–5/0 EWG hook; the larger body falls horizontally with a pronounced side-to-side action; deadly through sparse cover and open water when targeting quality fish
• Neko Rig — insert a 1/16–1/8 oz nail weight into the nose; hook through the center with a #1/0 wacky hook; the head-down fall and side-to-side action triggers strikes from big bass on hard bottom
• Drop Shot — nose-hook on a #1 or #1/0 hook, 12–24" above the weight; the larger 5" profile produces more action in the strike zone and attracts bigger fish than the 4"
• Carolina Rig — thread onto a 4/0–5/0 hook, 18–24" behind a 3/4–1 oz Carolina weight; drag slowly along the bottom for a large, natural presentation over deep structure

Best Conditions

• Year-round — the 5" Senko produces in any water temperature and clarity
• Heavier cover — docks, laydowns, grass edges where a larger profile gets more attention
• When bass are keying on larger forage (shad, bluegill, crawfish)
• Pre-spawn and spawn when big females are holding on structure
• Any depth — equally effective shallow on wacky rig and deep on drop shot and Carolina rig

Best For

Key Features

• 5" larger profile — attracts bigger bass and produces more bulk than the 4"
• Salt-impregnated formula — horizontal fall with seductive side-to-side action
• Works on any rig — wacky, Texas, Neko, drop shot, Carolina rig
• 50 proven color options — the most comprehensive color selection in the Senko lineup
• 10 per pack

Tackle Express Tips

1. Use an O-ring for wacky rigging — The 5" Senko's soft formula tears quickly on a standard wacky hook. Slide an O-ring onto the center of the bait and hook through the O-ring — you'll get 3–5x more casts per bait. A #2/0 or #3/0 wacky hook is the right size for the 5" body. The larger hook gap is important — don't undersize the hook on the 5".
2. Green Pumpkin Black Flake is the all-time go-to, but explore the laminate colors — Green Pumpkin Black Flake (#297) is your starting point in clear to lightly stained water. The 5" lineup has an exceptional selection of laminate colors — Gooseberry Laminate (#963), Brown Purple Laminate (#921), and Smoke Pearl Blue Laminate (#927) are sleeper colors that produce big bites in clear water when solid colors get ignored. Midnight (#362) is a top pick for night fishing.
3. Upsize to the 5" when you want quality over quantity — The 5" Senko will get fewer bites than the 4" in most situations, but the bites it gets tend to be from larger fish. If you're fishing a tournament and need a big kicker fish, or if you're on a fishery with a lot of small fish and want to filter for quality, switch from the 4" to the 5" and slow your presentation down. Let it fall longer on a slack line before moving it.

FAQ

Q: What's the difference between the 5", 4", and 3" Senko?
A: All three use the same salt-impregnated formula and legendary side-to-side fall action. The 5" is the big-bass option — larger profile, more bulk, attracts quality fish in heavier cover. The 4" is the most versatile all-around size for most situations. The 3" is the finesse option for ultra-clear water, pressured fish, and smallmouth. Start with the 4" and upgrade to the 5" when you want to target the biggest fish in the area.

Q: What hook size works best for wacky rigging the 5" Senko?
A: A #2/0 or #3/0 wacky hook works best for the 5" body. Use an O-ring to extend bait life and keep the hook centered. For weightless Texas rig, a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook is the right size. For drop shot, a #1 or #1/0 drop shot hook works well.

Q: Why is so effective?
A: The Senko has caught fish from day one because of the heavy salt which makes it sink without a metal weight.  The subtle action as it falls is second to none and should be in every bass anglers arsenal.

The Keitech Easy Shiner 3" features a slim profile and super-soft composition that allows the boot tail to produce an incredible kicking action on the retrieve. Its streamlined design performs exceptionally well around vegetation, and the bait is loaded with squid scent for added attraction. An ideal choice rigged behind a darter head or used as a swim jig trailer.

Key Features

• 10 per pack
• Boot tail design — strong kicking action on the retrieve
• Slim, streamlined profile — works great around vegetation
• Super-soft composition
• Squid scent infused
• Proven techniques: darter head, swim jig trailer
• 17 colors available — Sight Flash, Pro Blue Red Pearl, Bluegill Flash, Ayu, Silver Flash, Crystal Shad, Electric Shad, Sexy Shad, Electric Blue Chartreuse, Smallmouth Magic, Sun Gill, Green Pumpkin, Rainbow Shad, Clear Lake Hitch, Green Pumpkin Green & Purple Flake, Perch, Ghost Rainbow

When the bait in the water is small, five inches of swimbait is the wrong answer. Inside harbors and bays, spotted bay bass are keyed on little stuff most of the year, and a big profile gets looked at and refused.

Short version: 3", 0.35 oz, three to five baits per pack, the  weedless on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. The smallest bait in the Pickle Kick line, the cheapest per bait, and the only size where one pack builds one complete umbrella rig.

Where It Earns Its Keep

• Harbors and bays — the primary use. Spotted bay bass on the bottom around structure, docks, and rock walls.
• Skinny water and calm conditions, where a heavy bait lands too hard and a light one can be crawled.
• When you're getting followed but not bit. Fish tracking a bigger bait and turning off is a size problem more often than a color problem.
• Umbrella rig arms for harbor fishing — five small profiles reads like a real bait ball inside the bay. See below.
• Freshwater largemouth and smallmouth, where a 3" paddle tail is a year-round confidence size.

Rigging It

Match a 1/0 or 2/0 hook to the body — considerably smaller than what the PK-5 takes, so don't reach into that box. Run the point up through the belly so it sits flush in the slot. On a body this size, a hook that's even slightly oversized will bind the bait and kill the tail.

Keep the head light. A 1/4 oz head is the general-purpose pairing for harbor bottom work; drop to 1/8 oz in shallow calm water. The whole reason to fish a 3" bait is a slow, natural fall — too much lead and you've thrown that away.

Picking a Color

Inside harbors the water is usually working against you, so contrast matters more than pattern detail:

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Size down before you change color. When fish are following and refusing, the profile is usually the problem. This is the bait you drop to.
• Fish it on the bottom, slowly. Harbor spotties are a bottom-contact fish. Drag, pause, and let it sit longer than feels right.
• Don't reuse your PK-5 hooks. A 4/0 in a 3" body binds the bait and kills the action. 1/0 or 2/0.
• At five per pack, buy the color you'll fish all day. One pack covers a full umbrella rig or a full session of singles.

Common Mistakes

• Too much head weight. The slow fall is the entire advantage of a 3" bait. A heavy head throws it away.
• Oversized hook. The most common rigging error on this size, and it stops the tail dead.
• Fishing it in open water where the bait is big. This isn't the outer-island bait — that's the PK-5.
• Retrieving it like a 5" bait. Faster doesn't help. Bottom contact and pauses do.

What's Included

Five PK-3 swimbaits per pack, in the color selected. Hooks, jig heads, and the umbrella rig are sold separately. One pack rigs a complete five-arm umbrella rig.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many baits come in a pack?
Five.

What hook size does the PK-3 take?
1/0 or 2/0. Much smaller than the PK-5's 4/0–5/0 — an oversized hook binds the body and kills the tail.

How many packs do I need for a five-arm umbrella rig?
One. Five baits, five arms. It's the only Pickle Kick size where the math is exact.

PK-3 or PK-5?
PK-3 inside harbors, bays, and skinny water where the bait is small. PK-5 for open water, boiler rock, and the outer islands. If fish are following your bigger bait and refusing it, drop to the PK-3.

What jig head weight should I use?
1/4 oz for general harbor bottom work, 1/8 oz in shallow calm water. Keep it light — a slow fall is the point of this size.

Is it weedless?
Yes, when the hook point sits flush in the body slot. That's what lets it come through structure without loading up.

Can I use it in freshwater?
Yes. A 3" paddle tail is a year-round size for largemouth and smallmouth on the same slow, bottom-contact presentations.

What are the Aftco colors?
A collaboration series between Kicker and Aftco. Same body and same specs — the difference is the color pattern.

Gear That Goes With It

• Warbaits Neck Breaker Swing Head — 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz are the weights for this bait.
• Kicker PK-Rig Umbrella Rig — five-arm rig with quick clips.
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-5 — the everyday 5" open-water size.
• Kicker Pickle Kick PK-7 — the big-profile option.
• Kicker Booty Spin — same family with a spinning blade instead of a paddle tail.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We sell Southern California saltwater tackle from our shop on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, and we fish these baits in the same harbors you do. Not sure whether to size down, or which head weight your water wants? Call us or come in — we'd rather work it out at the counter than have you guess.

SPRO Flappin Frog 65 gives bass anglers a topwater frog they can buzz across the surface or slow down around a promising opening. Its legs kick with slight forward movement, so you can change pace without changing baits. A floating elastomer body lets you stop it after a missed strike and give a fish another look.

Keep the Legs Working

Some days bass react to a fast, noisy retrieve; other days they want the frog walked back more slowly. The Flappin Frog is made for both approaches. Its Gamakatsu 4/0 Nano Smooth Coating double frog hook supports a weedless presentation around cover, while the TPE body is designed for durability. The real advantage is being able to experiment with speed and pauses on the same cast.

The Right Pick If...

You want a 65 mm topwater frog with kicking-leg, buzzing action for freshwater bass fishing. Choose it for moving surface presentations and the option to stop after a missed bite. For a popping presentation instead, compare the SPRO Bronzeye Popper Frog 60; for a smaller popper profile, see the Bronzeye Baby Popper 50.

Best For

• Topwater bass fishing around vegetation and cover.
• Buzzing retrieves with the legs kicking across the surface.
• Slower walks and pauses when fish follow or miss the bait.

Key Features

• 65 mm length and 5/8 oz weight, as stated in the existing listing.
• Floating TPE elastomer body.
• Kicking legs that create buzzing topwater action.
• Gamakatsu 4/0 Nano Smooth Coating double frog hook.
• Twelve listed color options.

Models & Specs

How to Fish It

Cast past the cover you want to work and bring the frog across the surface so the legs kick and buzz. Vary the speed, then stop it near an opening or after a missed strike. Around thick vegetation, match it with a suitable frog setup; SPRO Bronzeye Braid 8X Moss Green is another line option to consider.

Tackle Express Tips

• Start with a steady retrieve, then slow down if fish follow without taking it.
• Pause near gaps in cover to give a fish time to come back.
• Check the legs and hook for weeds after each pass through vegetation.

FAQ

What size is the Flappin Frog 65? The listing states 65 mm and 5/8 oz.

Can I pause it after a missed strike? Yes. Its floating body lets you stop the bait and try to draw a follow-up bite.

What hook does it use? The existing specifications list a Gamakatsu 4/0 Nano Smooth Coating double frog hook.

Pick a color and find the retrieve pace that gets bass looking up.

The C3 Baits Ice Pick 3" is a staple finesse soft plastic born from over 40 years of fishing experience on Southern California's most pressured reservoirs — Castaic Lake, Pyramid Lake, and Lake Piru. Hand-poured, packaged, and delivered by Captain Castaic himself, John Petroski, the Ice Pick features a rounded profile tapering down to a flat pin tail that creates a subtle, irresistible action in the water column. Buoyant by design, it rides naturally on a dropshot or ball head jig, triggering bites when other baits can't.

Unlike a narrower profile bait, the Ice Pick's rounded body gives it just enough presence to be seen while staying light and natural — exactly what finicky bass in clear, pressured water demand. Change colors to match the hatch and this bait will produce year-round.

Key Features

• 3" buoyant pin tail profile — natural, light action in the water column
• Rounded body tapers to flat pin tail — more presence than a shimmy, more finesse than a worm
• Deadly on dropshot and ball head jig presentations
• Hand-poured and 100% handcrafted in Castaic, CA — made in USA
• Color-matched to local forage by Captain Castaic with 40+ years on the same lakes
• 12 baits per pack — exceptional value
• Produces year-round — just match the color to conditions

Specifications

Also try the C3 Baits Shimmy for an even narrower finesse profile.

Watch It In Action